648 HEREDITY AND SELECTION IN SOCIOLOGY 



theless, Buddhism does not contain those vivifying principles 

 of social regeneration inherent to Christianity ; especially do 

 we find it less adaptable, consequently less fit for carrjdng out 

 tlie primary task of a religious organisation ; and the best proof 

 of this lies in the fact that, whereas European civilisation has 

 developed steadily during the last fifteen centuries, Asiatic 

 civilisation, which is far more ancient and venerable, has remained 

 stationary. 



The sociological conclusions which we have reached were pre- 

 ceded, in the first part, by a somewhat lengthy study of the 

 theory of descent. It may be asked what connection can con- 

 ceivably exist between this biological problem and the problem 

 of religion as a social factor. We may reply that the theory of 

 descent is not merely a biological question ; but that the problems 

 of heredity and selection interest — or ought to interest — the 

 sociologist quite as deeply as they do the biologist ; for both are 

 problems of fundamental social importance. That this is the 

 case, is indeed so obvious that we will not labour the point. 

 It will suffice to say that training in sociology must be preceded 

 by training in biology ; and that none of the great problems of 

 sociology can be understood, much less solved, unless the sociolo- 

 gist possesses sufficient training in biology, and sufficient know- 

 ledge of the facts concerning heredity and selection.^ And it 

 it was for this reason that we began this work by a study of these 

 fundamental questions. 



The object which we had in view was, first of all, to expound 

 the facts which recent biological research has brought to light 



1 It would suffice to refer to the best-known books of Herbert Spencer — 

 The Study of Sociology, The Man versus the State, and Social Statics — in 

 order to justify our affirmation. But we may make particular mention 

 also of the classical work of SohaefBe, Bau und Leben des sozialen Korpers 

 {Tiibingen, 1896) ; and also of the valuable work of O. Ammon, Die Natiir- 

 liche Auslese heim Menschen (Jena, 1893). A more recent work still is that 

 of Rene Worms, La Societe comme Organisme. Paris, 1896. 



